The Horton Hospital, in Banbury, is a step closer to keeping its children’s and maternity services after NHS Oxfordshire yesterday agreed to pay £1.5m towards the cost of continuing a consultant-led service.

The total annual cost is £2.4m and the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust will meet on May 14, at Bodicote House, Banbury, to decide whether it will provide the remaining £900,000.